Like many in 2020, Natasha Deurwaarder found herself with ample free time after she was laid off from her job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, Deurwaarder dusted off her sewing machine, looked up some YouTube tutorials and started quilting.
One year later, Deurwaarder made her first sale — a quilted baby blanket for a friend — and Ofty Quilts was born.
Ofty Quilts’ extensive customization options are a key part of the brand’s appeal. Deurwaarder uses Kona Cotton fabric for its broad colour options, plus the occasional thrifted vintage fabric, depending on her customer’s preference.
“It’s totally custom, nobody else has it,” says Deurwaarder.
Depending on the size, a quilting project takes Deurwaarder as little as two weeks for a baby blanket and up to two months for a full-size throw. By utilizing free block patterns with graphic, bold designs, Ofty Quilt appeals to a younger audience.
“I’m more modern. I think a lot of people are used to their grandmother’s quilts, which are beautiful in their own right, but more old school, busy patterns,” says Deurwaarder. “I have a modern taste in a very old school craft.”